U.S. 24

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U.S. 24 stretches 435.27 miles across the Sunflower State, from the Colorado state line at Kanorado to Kansas City, Missouri. U.S. 24 enters Kansas along an overlap with Interstate 70 east 45.95 miles toward Colby and rejoins I-70 from U.S. 73/K-73 at Bonner Springs east 16.28 miles to the Lewis and Clark Viaduct.

U.S. 24 arcs north from I-70 into the Thomas County seat of Colby. The rural highway continues east, connecting the county seats of Hoxie, Hill City, Stockton and Osborne. U.S. 24 overlaps with U.S. 281 north 3.97 miles from Osborne to K-9, an with K-9 east to Downs, Cawker City, Waconda Lake and Beloit.

K-9 branches east from U.S. 24 to Concordia while U.S. 24 parallels the Kyle Railroad southeast to Glasco in Cloud County. Heading into Clay County, U.S. 24 advances to Clay Center and then Leonardville in Riley County.

Combining with U.S. 77 for 4.10 miles from Riley, U.S. 24 travels southeast to Manhattan, home of Kansas State University. K-177 ties into U.S. 24 by Manhattan Town Center mall outside Downtown Manhattan. U.S. 24 parallels the Kansas River from there east to Wamego, St. Marys and an expressway in northwest Topeka.

Continuing north of the Kansas River, U.S. 24 briefly overlaps with K-4 northeast of Topeka. Southeast from Perry, U.S. 24 combines with U.S. 59 for 8.34 miles to U.S. 40 at Lawrence. U.S. 24 then joins U.S. 40 east 23.08 miles to U.S. 73/K-7 along the Bonner Springs / Kansas City line. U.S. 24/40 turn south along U.S. 73/K-7 to connect with I-70 (Kansas Turnpike) east toward Kansas City, Missouri.

Within Kansas City, U.S. 24 originally overlapped with U.S. 40/73 along State Avenue east to Downtown Kansas City and onto the Lewis and Clark Viaduct (I-70) to the Missouri state line. The initial change for U.S. 24 in Kansas City took place in 2001 when State Avenue was realigned northward to accommodate the construction of Kansas Speedway. The relocation was approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on May 19, 2001.

U.S. 24 was eventually dropped from all of State Avenue east of U.S. 73/K-7 with the boulevard turned over to local control. U.S. 24 was redirected southward alongside U.S. 40/73 and K-7 to the Bonner Springs Interchange with the Kansas Turnpike. The overlap with I-70 replaced 16 miles of U.S. 24 formerly on State Avenue. AASHTO concurred with the relocation on October 18, 2013.

A business route for U.S. 24 loops 2.90 miles north from I-70/U.S. 24 into the Sherman County seat of Goodland. This includes a 0.55 mile long overlap with K-27 (Commerce Road). The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) initially requested to designate this loop as U.S. 24 Alternate. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) countered with the recommendation for U.S. 24 Business at the Route Numbering Commitee meeting on October 13, 1979.

U.S. 24 scenes
K-16 east concludes at U.S. 24/40 (Chieftain Road) in the city of Tonganoxie. 11/04/03
U.S. 24/40 circumvent the Tonganoxie business district along an arterial bypass. 4th Street extend east from the end of K-16 four blocks to the city center. 11/04/03
K-16 travels northwest from U.S. 24/40 (Chieftain Road) ten miles to McLouth and 17 miles to Oskaloosa alongside U.S. 59. 11/04/03



Photo Credits:

11/04/03 by Justin Cozart

Connect with:
Interstate 70
U.S. 40
U.S. 59
U.S. 73
U.S. 75
U.S. 81
Highway 7

Page Updated 11-05-2021.

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